Floods don't just take a toll on humans. Pets and wildlife also can be devastated, displaced or diseased by high water — even long after it recedes. All of which can have an impact on us, too.

So, here are seven things to know about floods and critters, whether you're a pet owner or simply slogging through a wet spot:

Plan on prevention. Heartworm is a year-'round hazard for dogs in Southwest Florida because mosquitoes, which transmit the parasites, don't ever take a break here. Although all dogs should be on preventive medication, the reality is not all owners know about or can afford it. Because standing water can lead to a mosquito explosion, Gulf Coast Humane Society Executive Director Jennifer Galloway is especially worried about unprotected dogs next spring. "I'm very anxious that in six to eight months (the time it takes for symptoms to become detectable) we're going to start seeing more (heartworm cases)." Once a dog is infected, treatment can cost between $940 (at the GCHS clinic) to $2,000 at a private veterinarian, whereas preventive medication for 50-pound dog costs about $15-20 a month and less for smaller dogs. The good news, Galloway says, is most dogs come through the treatment just fine, and people who adopt a heartworm-positive dog from the society don't pay for the treatments. There are currently 24 such dogs available.

This dog is recovering from heartworm and is available for adoption from the Gull Coast Humane Society, which will also pay for her treatment.(Photo: Special to The News-Press)

Keep livestock as high and dry as possible. No, not everyonehas horses, goats, cattle or pigs, and not everyone who does can confine them to a water-free pen or barn, but those who do should consider keeping them in as dry an area as possible, says Olga large animal veterinarian Dennis Van Roekel, to avoid foot and leg problems. "If they can't get to a dry place and there's standing water, or the ground is saturated, it erodes the soles of the feet and makes them sore-footed." Livestock can also get uncomfortable dermatitis on their legs if constantly wet. Another potential waterborne problem is pythiosis, "which is an organism that can enter a break in the skin and causes almost a cancer-type lesion," Van Roekel says. "The more water we have, the more of those cases we see."

Fire(ants) and rain: When these invasive exotic insects get flooded out, they do what smart humans do: evacuate. When it floods, colonies can emerge from the soil and band together in a loose raft, which can float on the surface of the water. The ants can link themselves together as a flotilla in less than two minutes, entomologist and Clemson University senior extension agent Tin Davis told USA TODAY. “If the water rises, they kind of all grab a hold of each other, and they can do this for several days, until they reach higher ground,” Davis says. Best strategy if you see one? Stay as far away as possible — and resist the urge to poke. “If one of those rafts comes in contact with you, or you try to break it apart, it will likely disperse and crawl up you," Davis says.

Snakes in trees. In (or after) a storm, the top of a palm tree can look like a very good port to a floating snake. If that snake happens to be venomous, like the treed diamondback in a photo currently making the rounds on social media, the freak-out potential increases exponentially for many people. But Joanna Fitzgerald, who directs the Conservancy of Southwest Florida's Von Arx Wildlife Hospital in Naples urges calm. "Just try too stay level-headed. (They're) always going to be more afraid of you than you are of them. I know it's hard to believe because so many people have an extreme fear of snakes, but in reality, snakes typically just want to flee."

Step carefully. For humans, boots or closed-toe shoes are a must when walking in floodwater, Fitzgerald says. "Animals can be there that aren't there typically." For the same reason, keep dogs leashed or close, even in a familiar yard.

Help refugees. "Some animals will, unfortunately, completely lose their homes," Fitzgerald says. "There are birds nesting at this time of year whose nests just cannot take the wind and the rain, and will fall apart. We see a lot off mourning doves, whose nests are kind of insubstantial to begin with." Other creatures, like rabbits, who raise their young underground may lose their homes entirely. "Some animal species can relocate their babies if there is a problem, but that's just not quite how it works with a rabbit." If you find a displaced bunny, bird or other animal, call Von Arx (in Collier County) or CROW's clinic (in Lee) and get advice from the experts

This too shall pass. Remember it's temporary. "Once the water recedes, these critters are going to be more than happy to get back away from such close proximity to people," Fitzgerald says. "Just remember they are suffering as well. Their home has flooded too. It does take a bit of compassion and understanding."